Posted 26 May 2009

Increasing numbers of Scottish students have opted to take gap years abroad of late, a new poll has shown.

According to the survey, undertaken by the Year Out Group, the number of Scots taking a gap year and volunteering abroad has risen by 50 per cent in the last year.

However, those north of the border were not the only ones smitten with the idea of gap year travel – the poll also discovered that more people from areas such as the East Midlands, north-east England and Yorkshire and Humberside are opting for volunteering abroad projects.

This increase could have been brought about by the slump in graduate recruitment as college and university leavers wait for the recession to ease before searching for their ideal jobs.

Students looking around for the perfect volunteering abroad package could consider South Africa as a gap year destination, as it is perfect "whatever the season", BBC presenter Simon King told the Telegraph last week.

Category: General Travel